Loose Door

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Jan 29, 2012 | 02:42 AM

Stingraynut

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 1,199

Likes: 4

From: Cairns Australia

Loose Door

1988 Coupe Auto
When driving I can hear the RH side door rattling over bumps-my vette is converted to RH Drive so that's the side I sit- it's not a rattle from inside the door, I know all them noises very well!!

This is a loose door lump noise, over bumps.

I opened the door and when lifting it up and down there is slight play in the hinges- not as much as I expected from the noise I've been hearing for the last year.

Is there a way of tightening up the hinges? or do I replace them? rebush them?

Rob

Jan 29, 2012 | 05:00 AM

XR_Strider_GuY

Racer

Joined: Mar 2011

Posts: 304

Likes: 0

From: Victoria Australia

Hi Rob,

Just thinking out aloud before you look to replacing/tightening the door hinges itself.

On the door striker can you see wear on the top part of it (ie the top part of it has grounded away)? If there is wear, then this would indicate that the latch diameter is smaller and the door is rattling around.

I would say some movement at the hinge area would be acceptable.

Cheers,
Gary.

Jan 29, 2012 | 08:17 AM

ddahlgren

Melting Slicks

Joined: Dec 2008

Posts: 2,772

Likes: 64

From: Mystic CT

I know this might sound crazy but take the targa off and see it gets better or worse and while doing that make note if the bolts are good and tight. I drove my 91 coupe home when I bought it from Philly to SE CT and almost when crasy with every bump then clunk clunk.. The targa was not tight but that was playing with both doors endlessly. I am betting they had the roof off to do the conversion and did not tighen it. You have to go around and take up each bolt before tightening all the way to seat it in all the tapers that locate it.

Jan 29, 2012 | 01:04 PM

DBo

Instructor

Joined: Sep 2009

Posts: 182

Likes: 1

From: Greenville SC

Another option is to look at your rear sway bar bushings. I have one that's bad on the passenger side (not yet replaced) and the rattle over bumps sounds just like it's coming from the door.

Jan 29, 2012 | 05:23 PM

Stingraynut

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 1,199

Likes: 4

From: Cairns Australia

ddahlgren - thanks but in 9 years of owning my vette the roof has been on and off many times, this is definitely the door

XR_Strider_GuY - good point and I have been suspecting the latch/striker for some time- how would i test that?

DBo - also a good point, I hadn't thought of that, I had the bushes on the two dog bones replaced and I think the sway bar also, I'll check, but I think this is definitely the door moving.

Rob

Jan 30, 2012 | 10:19 AM

engle1147

Le Mans Master

Joined: Jul 2007

Posts: 5,043

Likes: 8

From: Tampa Florida

If is is just a little up and down bump then I'd leave the bushings/pins alone for now and look elsewhere. Don't over look the obvious - if the door's weather stripping gasket is deteriorated it can allow the door to still "move" slightly even once shut & latched. If it were me and I knew everything inside the door was secure I'd change out the old door gasket before getting into a hinge bushing swap.